ASSOCIATES (vol. 4, no. 3, March 1998) - associates.ucr.edu
*"ARE WE UP YET?"
OR LAUNCHING A WEBSITE*
by
Carol Borzyskowski
Library Associate
Winona Public Library
carolb@selco.lib.mn.us
Okay, so now everyone who is anyone is on the web and
libraries are writing technology programs, policies and statements
as fast as they can. The big thing being: LET'S HAVE A PRESENCE!
We are scurrying to keep up with public demand, provide
services, and redefine our place in the 21st century with one of the
problems being how "virtual" can we become and still have a building
that people want to visit.
Maybe that is just something I worry about. I want to help
patrons all I can, and I want to embrace computer technology, but I
still want to check out a hard-covered book and place it into the
hand of a patron who has managed to find a parking spot around our
library--this means fighting the middle school crowd, the office
buildings, and food restaurants--and physically come in to get a
physical book to read, touch and feel.
So, if I feel this way how did I end up being the web-writer
at our library. Me, gasp, a NON-PROFESSIONAL? Well, no one else
wanted to do it. Sound familiar?
The director was all for it, my supervisor was all for it and
they were happy I wanted to do the thing. I bought books (remember
those, virtual readers?), I studied, I went to classes, then I got
Netscape 4.0 and met "Composer" and wept with the joy and simplicity
of designing a page. Okay, they are simple pages, I just have the
basics, but bubba, I do have a page!
Now, the problem started: lack of support. Does this sound
familiar? I mean who the heck was I, a non-librarian, to take on
such an august project? I ran around and garnered support and info
from the children's department, who were delighted to help, and glad
I was doing it, and a new staff member who is the best editor I have
ever met!
I set up simple dummy pages, then I started asking Reference
and Technical Services for information, and I am still waiting.
Their pages are officially "under construction." I asked Reference
for the disks that held their reading lists, and instead got to
borrow the lap-top so I could re-create them on my own. I asked for
links...and had one of the student pages sneak in and find me some
bookmarks.
What the heck is going on? It seems to be the age old problem
of professional staff not having the time or inclination to be able
to do something, but not wanting the "non-professional" staff to do
it. So the project is met with downcast eyes, evasions, and passive
aggressive resistance.
How do I deal with this, you say? Did I mention their pages
are marked "under construction"? Yes? Well, did I mention that I
put a "mail to" with comments and concerns on each page, to their
e-mail addresses? Hmmm? Probably no one has visited the website
yet, but all of you can!
I also set up my own shameless self-promotion page--including
some of my poetry, a short-story, and an essay. I kept talking to
the director who is pleased with the page. I set it up as the only
page on the local Winona Net. I have it linked to our consortia of
37 libraries. I am spending my own time on files and coming up with
ideas. I am a little miffed, but do you know what, I love doing a
web page and I feel I have really expanded my LIBRARY ASSOCIATE
horizons. I don't get any more pay, or even any more time to do
this, but I feel good!
Check out the site, and e-mail me, okay?
Http://www.selco.lib.mn.us/winona/default.htm??